Horse won't give its feet: teaching calm hoof lifting

A horse that will not give its feet is one of the most common reasons owners call me. It becomes serious when the farrier arrives, the horse pulls away and everyone is stressed.

A horse is a prey animal. Its legs mean escape, and a lifted leg means it cannot run. So giving a foot is not a small thing, it is a question of trust. Without trust, no amount of force will help.

I start with touch. I slowly run my hand down the shoulder to the hoof and stop as soon as the horse relaxes. When it stands quietly, I only ask it to shift its weight. Only then do I ask it to lift the foot for a second and release it straight away, before the horse pulls it back.

Short, frequent sessions work better than one long hour. When the horse calmly gives me all four feet, it will give them to the farrier too. That is trust in practice.